Sharing Inspiring Self-Help Wisdom By Author, Marilyn Fowler

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Rest

Since it is a Labor Day Holiday and Day of Rest, I let my dear friend Marilyn have the day off and I am filling in with one of my favorite blog posts she did from years gone by…

I hope you and Marilyn enjoy some “Wonderment and Peace” in your life today.
~ Author, Catherine Townsend-Lyon

Every day you have a gift. A new 24 hours to create your own experience. You have all the tools you need to color your day with wonderment. Your gift includes sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. What will you create? You run. You hurry to get there. Don’t be late. A job to do. Bills to pay. Food to prepare. Errands to run. Tend to this. Tend to that. Then night comes. Your day has ended. You’ve spent your gift. Did you create time for wonderment?

“The real voyage of discovery consists of not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes” ~Marcel Proust

Today is a holiday. I took my cup of coffee out on my back patio. I spied a bird in the oak tree. He whistled. Then I whistled. Then he whistled. And I whistled. He said it was a beautiful day with the sun coming up. I told him I was happy to share the morning with him. That’s wonderment.

I looked up to the sky billowing with white clouds between the sun’s rays. An old man with a white beard sat atop the fluffy mass, and a sparkling flower bloomed. That’s wonderment.

I went to the grocery store and ran my cart up and down the aisles. I picked up an apple. A bright red color. I rubbed its smooth skin. I put it to my nose and inhaled its sweet aroma. I saw a woman looking for a greeting card. She didn’t need the walker she had last week. The clerk smiled when I called her by name. That’s wonderment.

I went to a birthday party for my niece and me. I’d wrapped her gift in lavender paper. She wrapped mine the same. We laughed at our coincidence?I savored the coconut cake that melted in my mouth and the almonds that crunched between my teeth. That’s wonderment.

I heard some talk of politics and problems to be solved. But I heard joy in laughter and felt the love in all the hugs. A soft blanket covered the living room floor where my niece’s grandbaby explored her array of toys. My brother played the piano, and she waved her arms to the music. That’s wonderment.

As my eyes took in her world, a poem went through my mind. I watched her playing all alone. Such a little sweetheart, 8 months old.

A little beauty to behold.

Her eyes alive with new delight.

Pure wonderment on her happy face.

Outstretched arms in sweet embrace.

My heart longed to be where she was then.

Oh, if we could but keep those moments in life.

And return to that sweet paradise.

“Wonder is music heard in the heart, is voiceless.” ~Rosemary Dobson

What do you find at the end of your day? Are you tired? Does your body ache? Is joy in your heart, or just glad it’s over? You have the power to createyour music on your self-help road to freedom. The day is your gift, and you experience what you choose to create.

Do what you need to do, but open your eyes to the wonderment that’s there if you choose to see it. You are beautiful. Make each day as beautiful as you are. Look in the mirror and see the wonderment of you. What a blessing you are. That’s wonderment.

“Sometimes life really is a bumpy road, and some of those bumps hurt. We need to find a place of rest, so when the bumps come, we have what we need to pass through them. That place of rest is within you–that place of peace, joy, comfort, wisdom and strength. It’s a safe haven sometimes overlooked as we rush through life to worn out and stressed to deal with all the stuff that hits us in the face.”

That place is always there, but it’s not something to be just tapped into occasionally when we’re desperate for rest. It’s where we need to go on a continuing basis, where we need to live as we meet each day’s demands. We can form a daily connection through prayer, meditation, music, whatever way pulls you inside to your quiet place.

In every walk with nature, man receives far more than he seeks.” ~John Muir

We hear about the benefits of nature where we can also connect with our inner self, but how often do we seek out places where we can actually experience those benefits? Most wooded areas have quiet paths with trees that whisper messages of peace, flowers that dance in the sunshine. maybe weeds with beautiful blue flowers, a few muddy places for children to make mud pies, snow in winter, and puddles after a spring rain. Something all year to soothe our jangled nerves and tell us that life goes on with wisdom and peace, in spite of daily challenges. As often as possible, allow nature to become a part of your life and feel the benefits of being one with nature. You might even sit under a tree and hear it whisper what you need to know.“There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.” ~Minnie Aumonier

One year while visiting in Seattle, I sat on a shady porch taking in the pristine beauty of giant northwestern trees. I’ve always loved trees, and this majestic sight left me feeling breathless. Then a nearby tree called my name, and I thought of what I’d heard about the benefits of sitting under a tree. Something shifted inside, and I was drawn to try this new way to reach my quiet place. As I relaxed against the tree, the earth poured her loving energy up through the tree and into my body, wrapping me in exquisite peace and strength. And my heart was very quiet.
As I sat in this blissful space, I remembered singing in my school choir many years ago. We sang Joyce Kilmer’s poem about trees. I still knew every word by heart. And now I truly understood his poem…and so much more.

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Trees

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Too many people go through life so busy they never really know the beauty that lies within them. They don’t know who they truly are and the wonderful achievements of which they’re capable. Every day their attention is given to the busyness of everyday life, and they miss the best parts. Find your way to go within and be quiet. Listen for the truth in your heart. You really can walk through life in peace and joy when you know where to look. Look there often.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be quiet to hear it. ~Minnie Aumonier

There’s a place of rest within each of us–a safe haven as we rush through life too worn out to deal with everything that hits us in the face. But to find the peace, comfort, wisdom and strength to meet life’s demands, we need to form a connection through daily prayer, meditation, music and nature–whatever way pulls you inside to that quiet place. And one of the most effective ways to reach that place is with a tree.Trees put oxygen into the air, provide shade from the hot sun, wood for many of our needs, substances for some of our medications, and some provide nuts and fruits to nourish us. What a miraculous gift they are. And their vibrational energy is known to be healing.

In modern and ancient times, trees have held an important place in many cultures for healing, religion and spirituality. In 2004, Japan’s National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization, conducted an experiment and discovered that a forest stroll had beneficial effects on blood pressure, heart rate and the immune system. They also found that people who just looked at a forest view for 20 minutes had a 13 percent lower concentration of the stress hormone cortisol.In every walk with nature, man receives far more than he seeks. ~John Muir

In an article by Laura Hamilton in Psychics Universe titled The Spiritual Power of Trees, she says, “The energy of trees can also affect our mental, emotional and spiritual energy. With roots reaching deep into the earth, they have excellent grounding energy. Their vibrations are slower, deeper and more concentrated compared to some other living things. Essentially they give out the energy vibe of safety, security and stability. By coming into contact with a tree, you begin to resonate with the tree’s energy and you become more centered and grounded. This can explain the comfort many people feel when next to a tree, or the peace and serenity when they sit under a tree or walk through a forest.” She advises hugging a tree and thanking it for helping you ground your energy. As for me, I enjoy sitting under a tree leaning against its strong trunk.

One time while visiting in Seattle, I sat on a shady porch taking in the pristine beauty of giantnorthwestern trees. I’ve always loved trees, and just the sight took my breath. Then a nearby treecalled my name, and I thought of what I’d heard about the benefits of sitting under a tree. Something shifted inside, and I was drawn to try this new way to reach my quiet place. As I relaxed against the tree, I felt negative energy moving down from my body into the earth. Then the earth poured her loving energy up into my body and joined the powerful energy of the tree. My heart was very quiet, and I was wrapped in exquisite peace and strength. I’ll never forget the experience.

As I sat in this quiet, I remembered singing in my school choir many years ago. We sang JoyceKilmer’s poem about trees. Now I understood his poem, and so much more.

TreesI think that I shall never seeA poem lovely as a tree.A tree whose hungry mouth is prestAgainst the earth’s sweet flowing breast;A tree that looks at God all dayAnd lifts her leafy arms to pray;A tree that may in summer wearA nest of robins in her hair;Upon whose bosom snow has lain;Who intimately lives with rain.Poems are made by fools like me,But only God can make a tree.

Find your way to go within and be quiet. Listen for the truth in your heart. You really can walk through life with peace and joy when you know where to look. And look for a tree everyday.

I wish you peace, health, joy and strength as you walk through each day

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We’re in the midst of one of the most beautiful holiday seasons, but one of the most hectic. How much energy do you have to survive the pressure? Can you get through it without a muddled mind, temper tantrums, and pure exhaustion? If you’re celebrating a holiday, you’re in the same boat with the rest of us paddling as fast as you can to get to that happy place when the rush is over. But there’s no need to suffer through it.

We’re all allotted a certain amount of energy every day. Some people have a gallon. Some less. For years I was a quart person, and I managed to work 2 jobs and raise 3 kids. But over the years, I’ve become a pint person, and it’s hard getting everything done, especially in a rush season like now. In the past, none of the time/energy management plans worked for me, so I devised a plan that works well. I call it my go, push, and stop method.
It doesn’t put me in bondage, and it gives me time to relax and have some fun.

“It’s not the load that breaks you down. It’s the way you carry it”. ~ Lou Holtz
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1.) Make a list and prioritize. Knowing ahead of time what you need saves time and energy, and getting it out of your head and onto the paper avoids mental overload and lowers your stress level.

2.) Make a habit of self-awareness. If you’re not aware of what’s going on inside, you can become overwhelmed without realizing it until you’re immobilized and can’t get anything done. So you need a barometer for stress and energy levels. Several times a day, close your eyes and monitor your feelings: happy, calm, anxious, pressured, tired? If it’s the latter, you need to back up for a while. Imagine a cubby hole in your head where you can store material you can’t get to right now, then take it out later when you have more time and energy to deal with it. Unclutter your mind and preserve your energy. This puts you in control.

3.) Listen to what your body tells you, and start out with your to-do list when your energy is at its highest level. You can function in 3 modes. Go, Push, and Stop.

A.) As long as your energy is flowing, function in the Go mode. Keep going and get as much done as you can.

B.) When you feel your energy level drop, move into the Push mode. Pace yourself, you can still get a lot done pushing ahead.

C.) When your body says you’re too tired to push anymore, turn on the Stop mode and Stop. If you have errands left over, put that material in your mental cubby hole for later.

4.) Rest!! And if you didn’t finish your list, allow that to be okay. Take off your shoes, put your feet up, and express gratitude for the capable person you are. You deserve to take a break.
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If you didn’t accomplish everything today, know that who and what you are is not measured by your energy level, so find no fault with yourself. Obey what your body tells you, and use Push, Go, and Stop for a happier holiday, and use it all year for a happier heart. Do your best, and love who you are. You are worth loving.